Powder Storage and Distribution

Powder Storage and Distribution. . Until the invention of smokeless powder, gunpowder was used for all military operations and civil engineering. After gun powder was manufactured at a powder mill, it required a safe place for storage until it was distributed. Powder magazines were built for this purpose. They were often located in remote, secure areas, on the outskirts of dense population centers, because they tended to have a high chance of exploding. At powder mills, the buildings were usually separated, and designed to dampen explosions, so that an explosion in the powder magazine would not cause a chain reaction throughout the rest of the mill., Powder magazines were constructed both to protect the gunpowder and to protect the surroundings from potential explosions. They were typically made of stone or brick, with very thick walls. Some even had sand filled attics. The magazines needed to keep the powder cool and dry, so they sometimes had inventive ventilation systems that allowed airflow throughout the building without compromising security. The gunpowder was stored on wooden barrels for safety. The tiniest spark from scraping metal in a powder magazine could cause the entire building to explode., Powder mills and magazines were purposely constructed in places that had close access to railroad lines. Rail lines allowed the powder to be quickly moved to wherever it was needed. Powder from the Manchester Powder Mill was sent via the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad to points all ever the Confederacy.